Category: Sports News

A MEMBER of Raquets squash club, Steve Bateman, last week became the the National Clubs over 45s racketball
champion – just a week after winning another national over 45’s title.

In the National Club Champions, Racquets Over 45s team defeated Boston during a tense final in Nottingham last week-end (15/16 May).

Racquet’s manager, Simon Martin, described the game: “First on for Racquets was Steve Bateman who took the 1st game 9/1. Steve’s opponent hit back in the second, moving Steve to the front a lot more, but could not keep the pressure up with Steve winning 9/5.
“The 3rd was over quite quickly Steve victorious 9/2 to send us 1-0 up.

“Next on was Darren Withey. Darren a notoriously slow starter, didn’t get into the 1st game losing 9/3. The 2nd was much better – a much faster pace and Darren won that 9/3. All change, unfortunately, in the next two, Darren going down 9/1. Match score 1-1 with 1 to play!

“Bring on Mr ‘steady’ Eddie, Nigel Pattison. Nigel was also a bit sluggish starting, but managed to take the 1st game 10/8. The 2nd he raced through 9/3 to take a 2-0 lead. The 3rd his opponent hit back winning it
9/5 after Nigel had taken an early lead. The 4th looked a lost cause as Nigel went 6-1 down but he rallied to win the game 9/6 and the match 3-1.

“Racquets was victorious over Boston 2-1.”

PHOTO: Steve Bateman on the left

CALLING all over 50s who have never had the chance to learn to swim!

Nexus Community Leisure, in partnership with the ASA (Amateur Swimming Association) and Age Concern have secured Big Lottery funding to run a series of free swimming lessons across sites in Thame, Berinsfield and
Didcot.

This new opportunity will run as a series of 8, forty-five minute lessons at each location. The course will start with a gentle introduction to the leisure centre, the teacher and some goal setting to ensure that everyone achieves their own personal aim for the course.

The lessons are an introduction to the basics of swimming and water confidence and this project has been set up in order to increase the number of people enjoying swimming regularly as part of a healthy
lifestyle.

The profile of swimming has risen significantly over the last year with more and more people learning about the benefits of swimming. Swimming is a great activity, particularly for older people as it is non-weight bearing, and so therefore puts little pressure on joints, swimming can also be enjoyed at any level.

To find out more residents should contact the local centre using the details below:

Thame Leisure Centre, Tuesday 8 June, 9.15? 10.00 am, 01844 215607

IMAGE: Courtesy of gedling.gov.uk

Sumitted: 17/05/10

VENUE: Oxford University Sports Ground, Oxford. WHEN?Wed 5th May, 2010 – Chinnor RFC Oxen(Vets) XV 19 v Grove RFC Vets ? 3. MATCH REPORT:

CHINNOR Vets took to the field at Iffley Road last Wednesday as holders of the floodlit Cup and favourites in some peoples’ eyes. The Chinnor boys took to the field knowing that there was a job to do against a Grove side they have never faced. What they did not know is quite how hard the job was going to be.

Grove started strongly, camping themselves in the Chinnor half for the first 20 minutes. The defence from the Chinnor boys was awesome, denying Grove any score during that period of pressure. Fortunately the Grove kicker hadn’t brought his boots and left six points on the table missing two penalties in that period.

After the first 20 minutes, Chinnor fought themselves out of their half and based themselves on the Grove line and for about five minutes, Grove held back the Chinnor onslaught before succumbing to a snaping dart from Scrum Half Bill Deeley for the first score, skillfully converted by Conor Begley.

From there Grove slotted a penalty after a good break shortly before half time to leave the half time score 7-3 to the men from Thame.

The second half did not let up. The pace was ferocious as were the hits and about 10 minutes after the break, following a well worked break, John Sellars, last year’s man of the match, skillfully forced his way over the Grove line to make the score 12 ? 5.

From there both teams looked exhausted, having traded some hefty blows throughout the match thus far. A final score was added by Hooker Mike Wiltshire, converted again by Conor Begley, leaving the final score 19 ? 3. Both teams were extremely complimentary about the spirit of the match and there were no complaints as both knew they had been in a hard fought match.

Having beaten Oxford Harlequins Vets 22 ? 5 and Bicester Vets 24 ? 0 earlier in the tournament, Chinnor are worthy champions this season and fully deserve their second title in two years.

This win secures a historic cup double, Chinnor 1st team having won the County Senior Cup at the same venue a week before. To hold both the senior and the Vets cups is testament to the strength of the club within the county.

It was a squad performance and so no single performance could be singled out. However, the Oxford RFU’s man of the match for the way he dictated the Chinnor attack, was John Vaughan playing fly half.

Floodlit Cup Squad: Giles Kidner, Mike Wiltshire, Mike Hughes, Craig Smith, John Cann, Andy Millburn, Kenny Lue, Carl Buckland, Simon Turner, Simon Pearson, Steve Bridges, Paul Fincken, Gordon Fennell, Bill Deeley, Doug Humphries, Johnny Vaughan, Dave Wells, Jon Brooks, Richard Simpson, John Sellars, Jon Durrant, Ben Forward, Gavin Wade-Williams, Pete McDermott, Rob Atkin, Conor Begley, Tony Howells, Jeremy Philpott, Kieron Hall.

THAME Football Partnership?s new

BE PART of the New Community Facility at Meadow View Park in Thame. Thame Boys FC are looking for an Under 6 Football Manager/Coach for the 2010-2011 Season.

The club requires an enthusiastic individual interested in getting involved with boys’ football. This would suit a parent of a budding footballer who is currently in the reception moving into school year one in September 2010.

The club will provide:

?Training to FA Coaching level 1 and beyond
?All training material and equipment
?The support from our senior coaches

Please note that this is a voluntary position.

In the first instance please contact Gary Hodgkiss, Vice Chairman, ThameBoys FC at:
Hodgkissg@aol.com or call: 01844 217988

ALSO Players required for the Under 11 and Under 15 teams for next season.

LEAGUE MATCH – 1/05/10 – South Kilburn 1, Thame United 0 – MATCH REPORT:

THAME United completed their season last Saturday, with a 1-0 defeat away to South Kilburn. This game saw United?s first defeat since early December. Since then they have played eighteen league games, winning fifteen and drawing three. Having won the league title the previous Saturday, there was little to play for and manager Mark West was forced to name both himself, and club chairman Jake Collinge as substitutes due to non-availability of several players.

The first half was fairly even with both sides playing attractive football at a fast pace. Thame Keeper, Paul Searle pulled of an outstanding save after about 10 minutes when he bravely dived at the feet of a home striker, who was through on goal, and won the ball. Lawrence El-Kassir was forced to leave the field after 25 minutes with an injury, and leading striker Mark Jones was pulled back to midfield, with substitute Matt Wakelin replacing him ?up front?. Thame went close to scoring just before half time when Adam Stalwood collected a Pete Way throw in, beat his marker, and hit a strong cross from the left by-line, creating a difficult half chance for Ben Connelly whose volley flew inches over the bar.

Kilburn had the bulk of possession in the second half, but were facing the best defence in the league and chances were few. The goal came with 6 minutes to play when striker Eric Hamilton met a low cross from the right with a strong volley just inside the near post, giving Searle no chance. With two minutes to play, Jake Collinge came on and played his part in a move which resulted in Thame being awarded a free kick just inside their opponents half. The whole Thame team, including goalkeeper Searl packed the Kilburn penalty area as the ball came in but it was cleared seconds before the final whistle.

Thame United: Searle, Newell, J.Way, Cowan, N. Rhodes, El-Kassir (Wakelin), Connelly, A. Rhodes, Stallwood, Jones (Collinge), Ricketts (Gascoigne)

MATCH REPORT : Senior Cup Final – 25th Apr 2010 – Chinnor 68 vs Witney 0.

CHINNOR RFC celebrated with champagne on Sunday, after defeating a plucky Witney side that never gave up.
Although a sunny day was forecast, most of the match was played in light but warm rain. Chinnor were unable to field their full side with the influential full-back Alex Wallace unavailable. With Ben Hewitt also injured, Ben Farr moved to the 15 shirt, Tom Shiel played outside centre and Chris Elder took the 11 shirt. The pack was almost as usual with Mowbray at 8 and Gilbert on the bench.

The start of the match was a cagey beginning. At an early scrum, the Witney pack were penalised for standing up. Cathcart slotted the long-range penalty. Shortly afterwards, Chinnor were penalised for not releasing but Witney?s Ed Mitcham missed with his attempt at goal. On 10 minutes, Cathcart increased the score to 6-0 for Chinnor after a scintillating 40m break from scrum-half Toby Prescott leading to a Witney infringement at the ensuing ruck.

Chinnor then began to dominate proceedings. A series of scrums and penalties in the Witney 10m zone eventually led to a yellow card for Witney’s Owen Fowler. Chinnor opted to scrum the resultant penalty and scored a pushover try with Mowbray dotting down. Cathcart converted to give Chinnor a 13-0 lead.

Sam Jones stole the ball from a scrum in the Chinnor 22 and surged forward. Sam Stoop carried on the penetration and the ball was worked to Tom Shiel who skilfully managed to hold on to an awkward pass. Shiel sped through the midfield and linked with Serrano who drew all the defence towards him before releasing a try scoring pass for Ben Farr. Cathcart converted from wide out to give Chinnor a 20-0 lead.

From the restart, Mowbray powered through midfield and Stoop kicked to the corner. The bouncing ball was retrieved by Witney and kicked into touch. From the lineout, Chinnor attacked down the blindside and Jones did particularly well to release Elder in the corner, who then trotted unopposed to the posts for a Chinnor try, once again converted by Cathcart to increase the Chinnor lead to 27-0.

As the half time whistle approached, Elder made a telling break in midfield ably supported by Tom Shiel. Quick ball was worked to Cathcart standing some 15m out from the Witney line. Catching everyone by surprise, Cathcart launched a perfect crossfield kick where sprinting prop Joe Winpenny cleanly caught the ball and swallow dived for Chinnor’s most spectacular try of the match. The conversion missed and Chinnor went in at half-time 32-0 to the good.

Right from the start of the second half, Chinnor continued from where they had left off. Reclaiming the kick-off, the ball was worked from left to right and quick ruck work saw the ball come back the other way to Sam Jones who trotted to the line with three other Chinnor players outside hoping for the scoring pass. Cathcart converted and Chinnor were 39-0 up.

Witney began to run the ball more and more. With a promising Witney attack ended by solid tackling from Elder and a penalty to Chinnor, the play switched to the Witney corner where a series of mauls eventually led to a driven try to Chinnor converted from wide out again by Cathcart. Chinnor now led 46-0.

A dazzling break from Shiel through the midfield saw the ball worked to Stoop and then Gilbert (on for Mowbray) to trot over to give Chinnor a 51-0 lead. Chinnor retained the ball skilfully from the restart and about 15 phases later a quickly taken penalty by Prescott saw Gilbert over for his second try of the day. With the conversion from Cathcart, Chinnor were 58-0 up.

For the last few minutes of the match, Chinnor camped five metres out from the Witney line. They took several scrums against the head and took the ball over the try line several times without the benefit of being awarded a try. Eventually another scrum against the head saw Prescott dart down the blindside to feed Elder for his second try of the match. Chinnor now led 63-0.

As the ref prepared to blow for no side, Cathcart took a trot through the middle and fed Stoop the perfect ball for a sprint to the line and Chinnor?s final, and tenth, try. Final score 68-0.

The final score line is perhaps a reflection of the gap in leagues between these two sides. Chinnor clearly played well to score 10 tries and concede no points but were never pushed at any stage by the honest endeavours of the Witney side.

The pack were dominant at all phases of play evidenced by Joe Winpenny?s wonder try out on the wing. Prescott at scrum-half was always a threat and Cathcart?s kicking was almost faultless. His crossfield kick to winger Winpenny was perfection personified. Little wonder that the independent adjudicator awarded him the Man of the Match. Shiel looked very comfortable in the 13 shirt and was instrumental in the build up to several Chinnor tries.

The match was well handled by Bristol referee, Tom Foley, who missed nothing and engendered a free flowing game.

Chinnor never really had to get going but did plenty to win the match well, much to the jubilation of the attendant and large Black and White Army.

Chinnor team: Farr, Serrano, Shiel, Stoop, Elder, Cathcart, Prescott, Winpenny, Cawston, Pickett, Hutchings, Jackman, Jones, Williams, Mowbray

Reps: Whelan, Webster, Gilbert, Hastings, Green

THE RACQUETS’ Open Squash Doubles Tournament held in Thame this week, April 23/25, 2010, attracted entries from all over the UK and even included one from Australia. As it was a graded event, the tournement also attracted a number of social players, junior and senior, and was sub-divided into mens, ladies and mixed Categories.

The ladies event was won by the Ealing pairing of Helen Creak and Stacey Sephton (Australian Sydney province champion) with a good effort from Anne Terry (Racquets ladies 1st team) and emerging Racquets Junior, Aisling Guerzoni, as runners up.

In the mixed event the Ealing pairing of James Tewson and Stacy Sephton proved too strong for the Somerset pair of Martin and Tessa (ex England under 19s international) Healey. The mens tournament was a great affair with several new pairings put together in an effort to try and beat last year’s champions and the professional pairing from Birmingham.

Local players, Simon Martin and Tom Power, were beaten 11/10 in the final game after a very close match in which, with the score at 2 games all, they were leading 10/5 to the eventual losing finalists, Guy Tupper & Jo Brooke (recently selected to represent England at junior level).

Another local pairing of Will John (Welsh junior international) and Dave Herron did well to overcome Mark Webster and Clive Johnstone but went on to lose in the semi finals to the pro?s who proved too strong for them.

Surely after an amazing and tiring semi final Tupper and Brooke would not be able to defeat the Berks doubles champions Paul Johnston and Simon Rodwell? However, they dug deep and produced yet another classic 11/10 victory on the 5th game to reach the final. But, with a combination of tiredness and the superb touches and movement of the pros, they went down 3/0 to Chris Truswell and Jamie Haycocks in the final.

Racquets are indebted to the tournament sponsors, Terry Bradon, Eddy Smythe and Brian Cummings for their generosity in putting up the

CHINNOR seconds match report for April 17, 2010. (Contributed); CHINNOR Seconds played this, their 23rd league game, and with 17 wins, 2 draws and 4 losses, 546 points for with 313 against, are placed second in the league with one game still to be played.

This week was against London Scottish development and we anticipated a tough game with their second team not playing this weekend. It was a much changed team to the team we last played. Due to a lack of rain for a few weeks it was like playing on a South African highveld pitch with dust everywhere.

Chinnor expected another tough game against such a big and well-financed National 1 club. But, as soon as Chinnor ran onto the field you could feel that they were up for a tough one and were out to prove them selves, and so they did!

Both teams played well with Chinnor appearing to be the more organised side putting the first points on the board with a penalty after ten minutes by Jack Green.

Most of the game was played between the two twenty metre lines with big hits coming in from both sides and good defence. It took until the 40th minute before Chinnor added to the score with good work between forwards and backs, Chris Elder gave Chinnor their first try and it was converted by jack Green, giving Chinnor a lead of 10 ? 3.

The second half started at a very lively pace and Chinnor added more points with a try involving the whole team but scored by Rob Fenwick in the corner
The next Chinnor try was scored when Ricky Hopwood broke the line and got the ball to Chris Elder who outpaced the opposition, again converted by jack Green. The next try came from a break by Ed Rixon who passed the ball to Chris Elder, who drew 3 players before passing it onto Guy Hackshaw who scored in the corner. Scottish hit straight back with a converted try of their own making it 27points to 7. The last Chinnor try saw Sam Black breaking through the centre and running 60 metres with his teammates cheering him on from the half way line. Converted by Green. Once again Scottish came back with a push over try and Chinnor were waiting for the final whistle, but had to defend their line for five more minutes. The ref gave Scottish a penalty every time Chinnor turned the ball over which amounted to about 6 occasions, and then only blew after they finally scored.

The final score was Chinnor 34 points to 21, a superb win with good rugby played by both sides and providing the spectators with great entertainment. All 18 players were worthy of the man of the match award this week. But this week it went to new boy Chris Elder a superb rugby player.

We would like to extend a big thank you to Jon Brooks from the Vets. He showed the younger players that the older players are still capable of playing at this level, not only that but he was also playing his second full game in four days.

Walter McGuicken

NEEDING three points to secure their first league title in 15 years, Thame United defeated Eton Wick with such ease that the score line did little to reflect their dominance of the game.

Going in to the game, United could have been forgiven for being nervous, whilst the poor condition of the pitch had the potential to be a leveller. As it was however, United were quickly in to their stride and put their opponents on the back foot with their quick passing and movement. Within the first fifteen minutes Luke Ricketts, Ben Connelly and Adam Stallwood all had good chances to put Thame ahead but either failed to hit the target or forced the visiting keeper in to a good save. The pressure finally paid in the 21st minute when Ricketts delivered a free kick from the left in to the box where top scorer Mark Jones got in front of his marker and placed a bullet header to the right of the keeper.

From the re-start Thame immediately went in search of the second goal, with Sam Cowan heading over, captain Nik Rhodes going close from a corner and striker Aaron Rogers placing the ball just wide when clean through. Despite all the possession, United went in at half time only a single goal ahead, but knowing that if they continued to play at the same pace, a little more composure in front of goal would reap dividends.

They were rewarded five minutes in to the second half. Ricketts beat his marker on the left before delivering a square-ball in to the box to striker Stallwood who with back to goal, turned too quickly for the visiting centre back whose tackle did no more than remove Stallwood?s standing foot and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Adam Rhodes confidently despatched the penalty high to the keepers right. In the 66th minute United made it 3-0. Ricketts again set up the goal in a jinking run to the by-line before squaring across goal where Stallwood was left with an open goal from three yards.

At 3-0 it was game over and despite further chances for Adam Rhodes, Stuart Braun and Stallwood, United were more than happy to take the three points and the league title to go along with promotion to the Premier Division.

At the final whistle the champagne flowed as the management team of Mark West, Frank Thompson and Vince Saunders celebrated on the pitch with the players who, after a long season, proved that they were the best team in the league.

United will be presented with the league trophy in their final game of the season on Saturday 1st May away at South Kilburn.
Thame United: Orkney (Searl), Barr, Way, Cowan, N.Rhodes, Connelly (Wakelin), Jones, A.Rhodes, Rogers (Braun), Stallwood, Ricketts.